Pachuca outguns Dynamo in second leg

In the 113th minute, Brian Ching directed a header into the fully outstretched fingers of Pachuca’s keeper. That was when, finally, it felt like it really might all be over.

In the key moments of any Dynamo game, a point-blank header from Ching is as automatic as the sun rising in the east. When he failed to score his second goal of the night on this occasion, it finally seemed likely Houston would, for once, fail to survive in the CONCACAF Champions Cup.

Leading the Orange faithful at the Mezzanine

The Dynamo were like a slugging heavyweight fighter–laying back, only throwing the occasional punch to go for the knockout. And like the slugger, Houston didn’t throw many punches, but those they did, struck hard for goals. Unfortunately, Houston was up against boxers: nimble, quick, talented, and well-conditioned. Pachuca bobbed and weaved all night, almost taunting Houston. They threw a lot of punches, and a few of them scored. In the end, this fight wasn’t won by a knockout: it was won by split decision.

Unfortunately, the Tuzos won the aggregate series 5-4, of which two goals were given to Pachuca on silly penalties. Craig Waibel’s clumsy and unnecessary hacking at the top of the Dynamo penalty area evened the aggregate at 2. Brad Davis, after having been beaten near the goal line, reached his leg and arms around Christian Gimenez, giving up the penalty that evened the aggregate at 3. In the Chronicle today, Dynamo coaches and players, unfairly in my opinion, complained the referee cost them the game.

Indeed, the referees played a huge role in this match. Pachuca’s first goal was undoubtedly offside. Their second and third were penalties. Houston’s first goal came after the referees decided overlook a ball that likely went out of bounds. Houston scored a goal that was rightly called back. So it’s not that the referees made an inordinate number of bad decisions: it’s just that there were a lot of serious game events in which the referees played big roles.

For me, it just seems obvious that in a game played in Mexico, Waibel and Davis need to back off from lunging from behind. They were just asking for penalties.

I watched the game at the Mezzanine with a room full of fellow Dynamo fans in orange, and the emotional ups and downs throughout those 120 minutes brutalized most of us, I think. Of the seven goals scored last night, six of them changed the balance of power in the aggregate score: the series lead went Houston, Houston, tie, Houston, tie, Houston, tie, Pachuca.

Whatever a soccer purist might say in complaining about the style or game-long intensity of Houston’s play, the Dynamo again worked and worked to make this series a truly great battle between two talented, determined clubs. Ten or twenty years from now, I think Dynamo fans will still remember Dynamo vs. Pachuca 2007 in the team’s lore.

It’s hard to imagine watching a battle like last night and not being swept up and sucked in to this great sport.

Pachuca deserved to win this series, so there can be no complaints that the better team lost. However, we can’t overlook the validity of the common excuses about Houston’s disadvantage in conditioning. I truly believe having these games outside of the Dynamo’s regular season creates a slight disadvantage that may well have been the difference between Houston advancing or going home. With SuperLiga coming up this summer, then we’ll have the chance to prove that theory.

At the Mezz

That was a lot of fun at the Mezzanine last night. I mean, a lot. Obviously, the disappointment of losing was a bummer extraordinaire, but being with a big, passionate group of like-minded fans reminded me so much of watching big games at the World Cup–only better because it was our team. And those Mezzy burgers–wow.

What was not fun was having to help my buddy, who came to the Mezzanine a little later, pay $180 to get his car out of the storage lot of the Sunshine Towing company. Yes, legally, the people over at Freebird’s burrito across the street have the right to tow away folks who couldn’t fit into the Mezzanine’s lot; but as far as customer relations, that approach stinks. I can get my burritos from a lot of other places from now on.

Next up: Los Angeles

The whirlwind continues. Only three days after the Dynamo loss to Pachuca, the MLS regular season starts Sunday night at Robertson against the Galaxy. The big question is whether Houston comes in ready to take out revenge for their midweek loss on the next team coming across them; or will the Dynamo be demoralized and exhausted. I don’t know which team will show up: what do you think?

7 Responses

Lark, nice observations. What an absolutely dramatic game, with the scoring (if not the run of play) going back and forth.

I think if the Dynamo can play 2 halves, we’ll do well vs the Galaxy. Yes, there are 2, ii, two, dos, deux halves in a game. The past 3 or 4 matches (in CONCACAF and the Carolina Cup) it seems we have 1 kickball half and 1 Dynamo half. That kickball half drives me nuts…here’s hoping it’s gone forever.

Oh, and here’s hoping that DeRo is focused on showing that he is better than any foreign designated player…okay, so he IS foreign, but you know what I mean.

Hats off to the Mezz and the other pubs that hosted Dynamo parties! Sign me up for more such parties whenever the Dynamo travel. I’d much rather pay for beers and burgers at a venue that respects the Dynamo enough to host these parties than at the local “sports” bars that tune in a mute corner tv after getting a manager involved. Go Orange!

Pachuca ran circles around the Dynamo; obviouslty more skilled. However, everyone here is neglecting the altitude. nearly 8000 feet. makes a huge difference; add the Pachuca crowd atmosphere. all the S. American teams complain when they have to play away games in Bolivia or Ecuador. Dynamo didn’t have a lot of time to acclimate. Yet, they might’ve still won (the series) if not for stupid penalties, some bad calls, and concetrating on defense..at least the last 10 minutes.

oh… and why did they go into overtime???? international rules do the away goals rule aggregate. Away goals count double. At 4-4, with 2 away goals for Houston..they should’ve advance. what happened to that?